How have you been treated here as a Brit?
Apr 18th 2014, 1:28 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 277
How have you been treated here as a Brit?
Living in New England I love the place as it reminds me of back home. The buildings, scenery and just about everything else. Even the people have been so friendly and generally love anything British (considering half of them have European ancestors...
).
But I was talking to one American the other day and he asked me from where I was (because according to him my accent wasn't American) and when I said the UK, his comment was "Oh, I wouldn't want to live there! Good choice you made by coming here"!
I didn't know what to make of his comment, but put me off slightly.
But like I said, this was just a one off, and most of the people are very friendly and love anything British, which is one of the reasons why I love New England, but I don't know about the rest of the US.
Which brings me back to the question- how have you been treated here as a Brit?
).But I was talking to one American the other day and he asked me from where I was (because according to him my accent wasn't American) and when I said the UK, his comment was "Oh, I wouldn't want to live there! Good choice you made by coming here"!
I didn't know what to make of his comment, but put me off slightly.But like I said, this was just a one off, and most of the people are very friendly and love anything British, which is one of the reasons why I love New England, but I don't know about the rest of the US.
Which brings me back to the question- how have you been treated here as a Brit?
Apr 18th 2014, 1:36 pm
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 341
Re: How have you been treated here as a Brit?
You'll always get some that are like that I find.
But generally I get a good reception.
Partially as they don't realise how sarcastic I am. And partially because they're genuinely interested and nice folk.
That's been my findings across most of the MidWest so far.
I find with a Brit accent you can get away with far more than I thought possible. When you speak most people smile, very different to here in the UK
But generally I get a good reception.
Partially as they don't realise how sarcastic I am. And partially because they're genuinely interested and nice folk.
That's been my findings across most of the MidWest so far.
I find with a Brit accent you can get away with far more than I thought possible. When you speak most people smile, very different to here in the UK
Apr 18th 2014, 1:54 pm
#3
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: How have you been treated here as a Brit?
You'll always get some that are like that I find.
But generally I get a good reception.
Partially as they don't realise how sarcastic I am. And partially because they're genuinely interested and nice folk.
That's been my findings across most of the MidWest so far.
I find with a Brit accent you can get away with far more than I thought possible. When you speak most people smile, very different to here in the UK
But generally I get a good reception.
Partially as they don't realise how sarcastic I am. And partially because they're genuinely interested and nice folk.
That's been my findings across most of the MidWest so far.
I find with a Brit accent you can get away with far more than I thought possible. When you speak most people smile, very different to here in the UK
The sarcasm thing is only a problem with Mrs P, who now assumes I'm being sarcastic all the time, and thinks I'm being critical when I make a compliment.
Apr 18th 2014, 2:07 pm
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Sleepy Hollow, New York
Posts: 2,536
Re: How have you been treated here as a Brit?
In NYC Brits are two-a-penny and the accent rately rates a comment. Out in the 'burbs most people are pretty "meh" too but you do occasionally get a positive comment, but go up past the Bear Mountain Bridge everyonr's "oh my god I loooove your accent".
My wife hates it when that happens as she lived 10 years with me in the UK and all she ever got was "Oh, an /American/" type reactions.
My wife hates it when that happens as she lived 10 years with me in the UK and all she ever got was "Oh, an /American/" type reactions.
Apr 18th 2014, 2:18 pm
#5
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: How have you been treated here as a Brit?
In NYC Brits are two-a-penny and the accent rately rates a comment. Out in the 'burbs most people are pretty "meh" too but you do occasionally get a positive comment, but go up past the Bear Mountain Bridge everyonr's "oh my god I loooove your accent".
My wife hates it when that happens as she lived 10 years with me in the UK and all she ever got was "Oh, an /American/" type reactions.
My wife hates it when that happens as she lived 10 years with me in the UK and all she ever got was "Oh, an /American/" type reactions.
My wife's boss in London, who was an associate partner with a major firm of consultants, and was from Ohio himself, told me how many comments he got from colleagues and clients because of her accent. .... Including partners (i.e. colleagues senior to him) who wanted to know how he was able to hire an American secretary? They assumed he had been able to get a visa for her.
.... She also confused some callers from the US who were calling London but thought the call had been misdirected to a US office! 
Apr 18th 2014, 2:21 pm
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,903
Re: How have you been treated here as a Brit?
"Where you frowum?"
I looove your accent"
"You talk funny"
Etc., etc., etc.
Usually followed up with "How long have you been in the States?' and "Which is better, the UK or the USA?"
Sometimes I get "How did you get here?", to which the usual response is "Well, I got on a 'plane in London and landed in Atlanta..."
I looove your accent"
"You talk funny"
Etc., etc., etc.
Usually followed up with "How long have you been in the States?' and "Which is better, the UK or the USA?"
Sometimes I get "How did you get here?", to which the usual response is "Well, I got on a 'plane in London and landed in Atlanta..."
Apr 18th 2014, 2:28 pm
#7
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 277
Re: How have you been treated here as a Brit?
"Where you frowum?"
I looove your accent"
"You talk funny"
Etc., etc., etc.
Usually followed up with "How long have you been in the States?' and "Which is better, the UK or the USA?"
Sometimes I get "How did you get here?", to which the usual response is "Well, I got on a 'plane in London and landed in Atlanta..."
I looove your accent"
"You talk funny"
Etc., etc., etc.
Usually followed up with "How long have you been in the States?' and "Which is better, the UK or the USA?"
Sometimes I get "How did you get here?", to which the usual response is "Well, I got on a 'plane in London and landed in Atlanta..."
Apr 18th 2014, 2:44 pm
#8
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Sleepy Hollow, New York
Posts: 2,536
Re: How have you been treated here as a Brit?
My wife is from a rural part of Virginia, and she got positive comments on her accent when we lived in London; Noo Yawk accents might be two-a-penny in London, but southern accents are much less common.
My wife's boss in London, who was an associate partner with a major firm of consultants, and was from Ohio himself, told me how many comments he got from colleagues and clients because of her accent. .... Including partners (i.e. colleagues senior to him) who wanted to know how he was able to hire an American secretary? They assumed he had been able to get a visa for her. .... She also confused some callers from the US who were calling London but thought the call had been misdirected to a US office!
My wife's boss in London, who was an associate partner with a major firm of consultants, and was from Ohio himself, told me how many comments he got from colleagues and clients because of her accent. .... Including partners (i.e. colleagues senior to him) who wanted to know how he was able to hire an American secretary? They assumed he had been able to get a visa for her.
.... She also confused some callers from the US who were calling London but thought the call had been misdirected to a US office!
Apr 18th 2014, 2:49 pm
#9
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 341
Re: How have you been treated here as a Brit?
I'm laughing cos at least now I know it's not just me and the OH.
When she's been over to the UK she has got almost totally positive reactions from people. Although that could just be because it's a better option for them than talking to me.
Apr 18th 2014, 3:02 pm
#10
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,004
Re: How have you been treated here as a Brit?
Other than two redneck encounters in over 20 years, I have always found Americans to be very friendly and my nationality wasn't an issue.
I have met far more sarcastic, know-it-all Brits over the same period.
I have met far more sarcastic, know-it-all Brits over the same period.
Apr 18th 2014, 3:05 pm
#11
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 341
Re: How have you been treated here as a Brit?
I already know lots of 'know-it-all' Americans, yet to meet one that's sarcastic though (in comparison to any Brit).
Apr 18th 2014, 3:06 pm
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 130
Re: How have you been treated here as a Brit?
Sometimes I get "How did you get here?", to which the usual response is "Well, I got on a 'plane in London and landed in Atlanta..."
You'd be surprised how many fall for it.
Apr 18th 2014, 3:35 pm
#14
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: "LA LA Land"
Posts: 2,447
Re: How have you been treated here as a Brit?
Apr 18th 2014, 3:48 pm
#15
in Northern California
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 284
Re: How have you been treated here as a Brit?
Fremont, CA, where I live, is a high-tech melting pot. Most of the Americans here came from Asia, predominately India or China. When you see a white American, there's a good chance they're from Britain or Russia.
The great thing is, they/we all get along just wonderfully, even if my sarcasm flies over the heads of many around here :-)
The great thing is, they/we all get along just wonderfully, even if my sarcasm flies over the heads of many around here :-)
